Utilising Waste Flue Gas For Energy Efficiency In Thermal Powered Plants: A Feasibility Study

Literature Review

Australian Energy Statistics report can be considered as evidence to state that Thermal powered plants are the primary source of energy generation in Australia since 1960 (Industry.gov.au 2017, Table I). The discussed mode of power generation also releases a mixture of gases known as the flue gas. The discussed gas is produced due to burning of the fuel and other components that are needed for power generation in the thermal plants and is released via duct (Lund et al. 2014). The gas in consideration have considerably high temperature which is wasted (Maalouf, Ksayer and Clodic 2016). Hence, the aim of the proposed paper is to deduce or induce tools and techniques that are capable of utilising the heat wasted on the release of the flue gas. The heat energy recovered from the waste flue gas can be used to enhance the efficiency of the plant and it will also be beneficial for the plant in terms of sustainability, economically and other considerable aspects (Xu et al. 2014). The sections following has offered an insight into the approach and steps that will be part of the proposed research before summarising the proposal to conclude the paper.

The flue gases produced by the thermal powered plants are generally composed of the CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide), water vapour along with nitrogen and other air pollutants such as the Carbon Monooxide (CO), nitrogen & sulphur oxides and other pollutants (Gingerich and Mauter 2015). The discussed components of the flue gases make them highly rich in the temperature which can be utilised to reuse energy (Lecompte et al. 2015). The flue gases are also rich in excessive oxygen that it consumed during the combustion from the air which can be utilised to recover the water from the process (Lombardi, Carnevale and Corti 2015). The review of the literary work on the recovery of the heat energy and water from the waste flue gases produced by the thermal powered plants cites that it can offer prominent advantage to the plants. The thermal plant owners on adoption of the tools and techniques capable of recovering heat from the flue gases will be conserving and recycling the energy. The review of the literary work cites that membranes, condensing heat exchangers and desiccants can be used to recover water and reduce the water consumption ratio (Lund et al. 2014). The heat can be recovered by adoption of the technologies such as the air preheaters and economisers (Peris et al. 2015). Though, a limitation to the recovery of the heat energy from the condensing flue gases (acid gas) is still a crucial sector which needs to be assessed (Barma et al. 2015). Additionally, the problems have also been discovered in recovering water and heat at the same time (Li and Wang 2016). Hence, it will be justified to state that water recovery from the flue gas acts as a constraint for the recovery of heat from the subject in discussion.

Research Question, Aims, Objectives, and Sub-Objectives

Some of the technologies has also been identified by the review of the literature that are capable of recovering heat and water from the flue gases at the same instance. One of such technology is developed by the NETL (National Energy Technology Laboratory) a subsidiary institution of the DOE (Department of Energy), United Stated. The technology in consideration is the nanoporous ceramic membrane and is known by the name of TMC (Transport Membrane Condenser) (Wang et al. 2015). Another one of the similar technology is the WHRU (Waste heat recovery unit) that is capable of transferring the energy directly from the duct to other process (Nguyen et al. 2017). The technology in discussion is of great prominence because it saves the effort and resource invested in storing the energy recovered from the waste treatment and rather channels it directly to the ongoing processes. Other prominent technologies such as the boiler economisers, preheater and others have been identified which cites that the discussed topic is a much researched topic. However, one of the prominent gap that has been identified after assessing the literary work of the past and present over the subject in discussion is the economic, technological and sustainable feasibility of the heat recovery. Additionally, a generalised solution such as the TMC with the capability of directly channelling the energy to the processes in need of energy and similar other issues needs to be addressed. The review of the literary work has also enabled the author of the proposed paper to understand the basics of the research work in context and the approach that should be adopted to pursue the objectives of the paper.

It is evident from the review of the literary work in the above section that the discussed topic is researched by different scholars however, some gaps have been identified and depending upon them the research questions, objectives and sub-objectives of the paper has been discussed in the deemed section.

The research questions that the proposed research work will attempt to answer are as follows:

• Does the heat recovery from the waste flue gases improves efficiency?
• What is the economic feasibility of the heat recovery from the flue gases in thermal power plant?
• What is the technological and sustainable feasibility of adopting the heat recovery from the waste flue gases?
• Can the identified solutions be integrated to have a more efficient and effective solution?

The aim of the proposed paper is the identification or deduction of an adequate and feasible solution for the recovery of the heat from the waste flue gases. The discussed research work will have prominent advantage because there are solutions available for the recovery of heat though the plants and other industries are restraining themselves from adopting renewable technologies (Union of Concerned Scientists 2018). Identification of the economic, technical and sustainable feasibility of the adoption of the discussed technology will assist in understanding the barriers, enablers and motivation for the adoption. The identification will assist in motivating the readers to adopt the technology by introducing them the enablers and benefits that their plant will earn on adoption of the techniques for the heat recovery from waste flue gases. It will also enable the readers to understand the concept behind the heat recovery from the flue gases and how it will improve the efficiency of the thermal power plants. The identification of the barriers will assist in mitigating the threat posed by them through development of mitigating tool or techniques. The academic & professional researchers will also earn directions to pursue their scholarly research works.

The motivation to pursue the topic in discussion was derived from the increase in renewable technologies and the advantages that they are capable of offering to an industry. Additionally, the environmental concerns due to the operations of the thermal power plant and the capability of the renewable techniques to mitigate the concerns were also the driving factor to pursue the research in consideration. Further the low adoption ratio of the renewable techniques even though it offers prominent benefits is also a motivating factor.

Post completion of the proposed research work the finding will be drafted in form of a research report. The report will act as a guide for future research works and will act as a motivator for the plants that have association with the flue gases. The project will even maintain a database for the findings collected through the secondary means and through the survey done for the primary means.

Eveloy et al. (2016), in their paper has revealed that the recovering heat energy from the flue gases enhances the energy efficiency of the plant by over 6 % which is a significant amount. However, the discussion by the authors in the paper quoted above has limited themselves to the United States and hence cannot be considered to the finding that is valid in a generalised context. Another paper by Suntivarakorn and Treedet (2016), also suggests that the boiler’s efficiency is increased with the heat recovery from the flue gases though it is for a specific part of the thermal power plant and not for the complete plant. Though, the reliability of the data from the different cannot be considered to be reliable for the topic that the proposed paper will pursue but they can be cited to develop the first hypothesis. Hence, the first hypothesis of the proposed paper is

“H1- Recovery of the heat energy from the flue gases enhances the efficiency of the thermal power plant.”

The researches over the topic of discussion has revealed that the efficiency of the plant increases on the adoption of the tools and techniques that are capable of the recovering heat from the flue gases. The increased efficiency earned by the thermal power plant enables the power to generate more power in little resources which is beneficial for the organisation in context of finance (Nguyen et al. 2017). However, the less adoption ratio of the techniques can be taken in consideration to state that the adoption of the tool & techniques for recovering heat from the flue gases is not economical and hence the development of conflict situation in context of economics. The conflict can be omitted by citing two hypothesises and they are

“H2- The adoption of the heat recovery tools & techniques is economically feasible.”

“H2₁– The adoption of the heat recovery tools & techniques is not economically feasible in terms of adoption cost.”

Eveloy et al. (2016) in their paper has identified that the recovery of the heat energy from the flue gases avoids 457 tons of CO₂ emission in the environment which is of prominent advantage for the environment and the sustainability of the thermal power plants. Additionally, it has also been identified that recovery of the heat if done with disruptive technology is also capable of reusing water which is also a prominent advantage for the environment (Wang et al. 2015). It can also be stated that the reduction of the heat released from the duct enhances the life spam of the duct and other core components that are exposed to the heat which can be justified to state that the recovery of the heat from flue gases is technical feasible. Based upon the discussion above the following two hypothesises can be quoted:

“H3- The recovery of heat from the flue gases are feasible in context from the sustainability point of view.”

“H4- The recovery of the heat from the flue gases are feasible in context of the technical perspective.”

The low adoption of renewable techniques as part of the thermal power plants and other industries can be because of two prominent reasons, the first is economic in nature while the other may be due to lack of adequate solutions (Union of Concerned Scientists 2018). However, several solutions for the recovery of the heat from the flue gases has been identified in review of the literature and hence it would be justified to present the following hypothesis.

“H5- Integration of different solutions for the heat recovery would offer an adequate and generalised solution.”

The field set-up for the study in consideration will be the traditional in nature and adopt the mixed data collection & research methodology along with the meta-analysis as part of the data analysis. The approach for the paper will be deductive in nature and the philosophy will be interpretivism.

The secondary data will be collected from the literary work of the past which will offer an insight into the solutions that are in existence along with the stats relevant to the research. On the contrary the primary data collected through surveys and interviews of the thermal power plant owners and professionals will enable to gather much needed information on the technical, economic and sustainable feasibility of recovering the heat from flue gases. The collected findings will then be analysed using meta-analysis because the data collected from different sources will be different in nature and needs to be analysed separately before a generalised finding is concluded over.

Potential Results Outcome And Relevance

Table: Relevancy Table

(Source: Created by Author)

Project Planning And Gantt Chart

Table: Project Planning Table

(Source: Created by Author)

Conclusion

The report can be summarised to state that the subject of discussion is a well-researched topic however, there are gaps in the literary work that needs to be addressed. The identified gaps are relevant to the technical, economic and sustainable feasibility of the heat recovery from the flue gases and the lack of adequate solution. The proposed research work aims at filling up the gaps through use of meta-analysis of the data collected from the mixed data collection from the thermal power plants. Additionally, the research work will pave ways for different scholars to carry further research on the subject of discussion while offering the plant owners the advantage of the factors associated with the heat recovery and in the process adopt the tools and techniques to attain the recovery system. A reflection over the existing system will also be done. Hence, it can be emphasised to state that the proposed research work is needed and will offer prominent benefit to the readers.

References

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Eveloy, V., Rodgers, P., Olufade, A., Wang, Y. and Al Alili, A., 2016. Waste Heat Recovery from Gas Turbine Flue Gases for Power Generation Enhancement in a Process Plant. Int. J. of Thermal & Environmental Engineering, 12(1), pp.53-60.

Gingerich, D.B. and Mauter, M.S., 2015. Quantity, quality, and availability of waste heat from United States thermal power generation. Environmental science & technology, 49(14), pp.8297-8306.

Industry.gov.au. (2017). Australian Energy Statistics. [online] Available at: https://www.industry.gov.au/Office-of-the-Chief-Economist/Publications/Pages/Australian-energy-statistics.aspx [Accessed 18 Jun. 2018].

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Suntivarakorn, R. and Treedet, W., 2016. Improvement of boiler’s efficiency using heat recovery and automatic combustion control system. Energy Procedia, 100, pp.193-197.

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